West Virginia Mountaineers vs Pittsburgh Panthers Picks and Predictions September 13th 2025

West Virginia Faces Major Injuries Ahead of Rivalry Game

The highly anticipated Backyard Brawl loses some of its spark this season as West Virginia prepares to host Pitt on Saturday afternoon in Morgantown. The Mountaineers will be without two of their most important offensive weapons for the rest of the year.

Running back Jahiem White, a preseason All-Big 12 selection, suffered a knee injury during last weekend’s 17-10 loss at Ohio. White had already scored a touchdown and gained 40 yards before being horse-collar tackled. He is scheduled for surgery this week, ending his season after rushing for 844 yards and seven scores in 2023.

Wide receiver Jaden Bray also went down, re-aggravating a foot injury that limited him last season. His absence thins out a passing attack already in need of consistency. Fans looking at overall college football team profiles can review updates at Scores and Stats NCAAF teams

The Rivalry Returns With High Stakes

West Virginia enters the matchup at 1-1 and looking to avenge a narrow 38-34 road loss to the Panthers last year. Head coach Rich Rodriguez, back in the rivalry for the first time since 2007, emphasized the magnitude of the game for the program and its supporters.

“It’s obviously the biggest game on your schedule when you’re at West Virginia,” Rodriguez said. “From our fans’ standpoint, Pitt is the biggest game we play.”

This year’s meeting is even more meaningful as the series will go on hiatus after Saturday, not resuming until 2029. Pitt currently holds a 63-41-3 all-time advantage. Bettors can check the latest college football odds

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Pitt’s Explosive Offense Taking Shape

While the Mountaineers deal with key losses, Pitt arrives in Morgantown with one of the nation’s most dynamic offenses. The Panthers are averaging 53 points per game, tied for eighth-best in the country, and rank 16th nationally in passing with 321 yards per contest.

Quarterback Eli Holstein has been a standout, throwing for 304 yards and four touchdowns in last week’s 45-17 win over Central Michigan. He now has eight touchdown passes on the season, tied for fifth-most in the nation, and is averaging an impressive 10.2 yards per attempt.

For fans looking ahead to betting angles, expert college football picks provide breakdowns of how Pitt’s passing attack could match up against West Virginia’s defense.

Coaches Keep Focus on Execution

Despite the intensity of the rivalry, Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi has worked to keep his team grounded. He noted that crowd noise, travel logistics, and fan anticipation don’t matter as much as maintaining focus.

“The team that’s going to stay focused best on the task at hand is winning the football game,” Narduzzi said. “That’s what we’re going down there to do.”

With the emotional edge on West Virginia’s side and the offensive firepower favoring Pitt, this year’s edition of the Backyard Brawl could hinge on which team adapts better in high-pressure moments. Preview articles and matchup analysis are available at college football previews

Betting and Handicapping Insights

The loss of White and Bray makes it more difficult for West Virginia to keep pace in a shootout, while Pitt’s passing attack looks poised to continue its strong start. Those considering wagers can review recommended buy picks and follow performance trends on the best handicappers leaderboard